The five, along with Sakdeep Kandola, Sukhwinder Chatha and Gurbax Hayre, also pleaded not guilty to violent disorder.

Amarprit Khera and Kandola deny possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Mark Wall QC, prosecuting, said the case centred around the Guru Nanak

Gurdwara temple in High Street, Smethwick where two groups had formed, one traditionalists, the other modernists.

"Unfortunately, last year, things in the temple were not happy. Some of the people had fallen out amongst themselves and had various supporters," he said.

Mr Wall said that by April 22, 2007, things had come to a head after Mr Powar, a modernist, was removed as president by the management committee.

He said that date was significant in the Sikh calendar because it was the Vaisakhi festival day and it involved a huge celebration and parade. Many of those taking part dressed traditionally and wore ceremonial swords and knives.

Mr Wall said the parade ended in Handsworth Park where there were organised activities for adults and children as well as a fun fair.

"But there were people there, from the various factions within the temple, who took with them not only their ceremonial dress but also their frustration and anger about what had been going on at the temple," said Mr Wall.

"Anger boiled over and there was a huge public disturbance."

Mr Wall said there may have been up to 200 people involved in the violence and that the police, who at one point tried to form a cordon to keep the factions apart, were unable to contain it.

The incident seemed to have been sparked off when Klaar made a rude gesture at someone in the opposing group who then ran at him and knocked off his turban.

The incident culminated when Mr Powar, with others, were near a cricket pitch when a larger group charged at them, Mr Wall told the jury.

Both he and his son were attacked.

Mr Powar received three significant stab wounds, suffered extensive internal bleeding and had to remain in hospital for two weeks, Mr Wall said.